March 1981
“Thermal 81” is a new way to store heat. It is sold in the form of six-foot rods. They liquefy as they absorb heat – for example, from a wood stove – then release it gradually at 81 degrees as they return to solid state.
A Westbrook woman reported the theft of $126 worth of food stamps.
Trinity Lutheran Church, Westbrook, will hold a “Clothes Closet” 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, giving away clean clothing.
The South Portland Taxpayers’ Association has nearly 2,000 signatures on petitions seeking a referendum on city charter changes that would restrict spending and borrowing. Whether it beat the Feb. 28 deadline is yet to be determined.
At $1,259,199, Cianbro of Pittsfield, was lowest of six bidders on rebuilding South Portland’s West Broadway to carry it deeper under the Portland Terminal Railroad tracks. The Maine Department of Transportation will pay for the work.
The South Portland Planning Board approved plans of Dexter Shoe to build a store on Westbrook Street near Pape Chevrolet.
Maine Secretary of State Rodney Quinn and others would like to see party politics back in Gorham town elections, with Democrat and Republican Parties choosing candidates for election.
Windham Republicans nominated Peter R. Tetrault for a Town Council member at large and Richard E. Brume for East Windham Council member. Republicans renominated Barbara Strout for Town Clerk. Winfred Strout decided not to seek a second term on the Council; previously he served two terms on the School Committee. Republicans nominated Melvin A. Winslow and Robert B. Nunley for the School Committee.
F. S. Plummer, Gorham, plans a housing subdivision on the New Road, Scarborough, off the Running Hill Road, site of worked-out gravel pits.
Gorham’s girls won the State Class B High School basketball championship for the fourth year in a row. In the final, they beat Mountain View 50-38.
Fuel oil is advertised at $1,219 a gallon.
Evan Richert, 33, South Portland’s planning director four years, is resigning to start his own planning business.
Brascan Limited, of Canada, is buying stock in Scott Paper Co. Brascan is a holding company with interests in oil, beer, food and utilities.
Westbrook beat South Portland 44-43 in a high school boys’ basketball nail-biter.
Julie Carter, Eagle’s Nest Drive, Scarborough, started growing sprouts two years ago as a part-time job. Today it’s full-time for her and she has brought husband Robert into it too. Under license from an Iowa company, they grow alfalfa and other sprouts and sell them to restaurants and groceries in New England.
On recommendation of Scarborough High School Principal Alexander Juniewicz, the school board has voted that general course students now have to pass, not just take a semester course in American government.
With solar panels on his mobile home and a trash-burning stove, Melvin Heath, Windham will be cutting his oil bill.
Soccer teams of seventh and eighth grade boys will compete in an indoor tournament at Bates College Sunday.
Westbrook beat Brunswick 66-52 for the Western Maine Class A girls’ basketball championship. The American Journal reported it basket-by-basket.
Ronald E. Stewart is resigning after 10 years as South Portland city manager. He will be succeeded by his assistant, Robert Ganley. Stewart will take a management position with Land Reclamation, Inc., Westbrook.
Ruel Ricker is resigning as South Portland’s city engineer after 2-and-a-half years.
Richard W. Campbell, 33, has been named manager of Gerrity Building Center, Gorham.
Peter Zaimes, owner of Ponderosa Park in Westbrook, is proposing to develop Lake Region Family Park in Windham, on Rte. 302 near the Raymond town line.
Cheverus beat Westbrook, 65-62, for the Class A boys’ high school Western Maine championship.
The South Portland Board of Education chose Ralph Egers, assistant superintendent of schools, to succeed John Seeking, superintendent.
March 1991
“Smash and grab” thieves stole jewelry reportedly worth more than $100,000 at the Maine Gold and Silver store on Meeting House Hill, South Portland. The thieves smashed a plate glass window and eight glass showcases. They knew which of the covered cases had the most valuable jewelry.
The Scarborough Sanitary District is considering extending a sewer beyond its area to serve a new Shop ‘N Save and other retailers behind Oak Hill Plaza.
Westbrook’s mayor and City Council agreed Monday to accept $11,472 from the Westbrook Housing Authority instead of the $100,000 due from WHA under city rules for sewer service to WHA’s East Bridge Street senior housing.
Windham Town Councilor Stu Neal suggests that the town recondition police cars, sharply increasing their value, before selling its old cars.
John H. Rich, Jr., of Cape Elizabeth, retired NBC foreign correspondent, volunteering as the American Journal’s Gulf War correspondent, made his way to Bahrain and sent by facsimile his report of an interview with Lt. (j.g.) Christopher Godfrey, USN, of Kittery, who serves on a guided missile frigate. Godfrey told of seeing dozens of missiles fired from the U. S. Ships at Baghdad.
R. J. Grondin and Sons, Gorham, is asking the Windham Planning Board to approve a 203-acre expansion of its gravel pit on Rte. 302 north of Pettengill Pond.
A 34-inch 9-pound cusk won the Sebago ice fishing derby for Gary Sanborn, East Sebago.
The Lincoln banquet was held at the Portland Club.
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